Ball-bearing spindle



T..M. PRUDDEN.

BALL BEARING SPINDLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.29, 1919.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

\nventor. T heodore M P rudden byfluw Aily s.

omrso STATES,

PATENT THEODORE M..,PmrnnE1v, or NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

- BALL-BEARING SIEINDLE.

- To all whom-2'25 may concern:

7 Be it'known that I, THEODORE M. PRUDDEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resident of Newton, county of Middlesex, State ofllllassachusetta; have" invented an Improvement in Ball-Bearin S aindlesof which the spindle constructions and the principal ob- 'ect thereof isto orovide a relativel inexpensive spindle bearing preferably of ballbearin t 3e whlch will be effective in 0 Jerae l p tion and of durableconstruction";

- proper shape of the bearing and wil'l hold illustrating a preferredformof ball bearing .One of the objects of the inventionis to provideacushi'oned lower or step bearing for the spindle which desirably issupported directly or indirectly from the lower wall of the chamber of aspindle supporting member or bolster.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a spindle with a bearingor bearings which are formed ofcooperating thin'hardened metal supportedby relatively thick walls of bearing members having proper form for saidbearings so that the material of said thickened walls will cause thehardened metal wearing members co conformotothe them in said shape,

Another object of theinvention is to-provide a" ballbearing spindle inwhich the wearlng members are made of steel which s carbonized beforefinal machining and hardgyroscopic movement."

enedafter:the final machining so that the grinding of thebearing-surfaces is unneces-- Sal y. J1

A further object ofthe invention is to pro.- vide means formounting thespindle upon its supporting means in such a manner that thebaseof thespindle is permitted to have a A further'object of the invention is toprovide a ball bearing spindle with an upper ball bearing which issubstantially in the line of the pull of the band'upon the whirl andwhich produces a downward pulling force upon the spindle blade therebyretaining the base of the spindle firmly in contact with its lowersupporting bearing and insuring the proper rotation of the spindle.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a ball bearing for aspindle in which the lower end of the spindle maybe permanentlySpecifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30,

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,674.

supported, preferably by an antifriction step i bearing with an upperball bearing having with means for enabling the oil contained'in' thebolster to be drawn off. r

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings I and will bepointed out in the annexed claims.

Apre'ferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings inwhich, e

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly. in vertical sectionof aball bearing spindle construction, I F ig. 2 is-a detail view partlyin vertical section illustrating the connection between the bolster,bolster casing and the rail'which supports'the bolster casing,

Fig. 8 is a detail vertical sectional view of thelower end of thebolster showing the duct-l V for permitting the oil to be drawn off frothe chamber oftheibolster,and, y I Fig. dis a detail view'in verticalsection blade 1 and asupporting member or bolster 2 having an upperchambered cylindrical portion 3 and a downwardly extending cham beredstem, the end wall 4 of which termi nates short of the bolster butprovides a seat for the lower or step bearing 5 for the spindle blade1.-. j

The upper cylindrical portion of the bolster isprovided with an oil duct6 which may be conveniently closed by a plug or cap 7 which may beremoved to permit oil to be introduced into the bolster chamber' Thelower end of thebolster stem is provided with a duct 8 through which theoil maybe drawn off from the bolsterysaid duct being desirably closed bya screw 9 or other sealing means so that the oil may be retained withinsaid bolster.

The lower bearing 5 preferably is in the form of a cup shaped ball race,the upper periphery of which is smaller than the d1ameter of the chamberin said bolster stem and cushioning means are interposed between thewall of the bolster and the parallel wall of the bearing. Thiscushioning means may.

be in the form of a layer 10 of leather or other suitable packing butpreferably is in the form of a spring'having a basal portion 11 restingupon the wall 4: at the end of the bolster chamber and having arms 12engaging the peripheral wall of the bearing 5, and that of the bolsterchamber. .In the operation of the spindle the lower bearing is allowedto creep and by interposing the hardened steel central portion of aspring between the bearing and the end wall of the bolster chamberwearing of the lower wall of the bearing 5 is reduced to a minimum. 7

The spring arms 12 serve to permit a slight gyroscopie movement of thelower end of the spindle which tends to make it self centering.

In order alternatively to provide forthe gyroscopic movement of the baseof thespindle the stem 2 desirably is supported by resilient meansinterposed between the bolster stem and the casing. A convenientandrelatively inexpensive means for accomplishing this purpose which isillustrated herein comprisesv a packing 13 of fibrous materialinterposed between the portion :14; of the bolster stem and a screwthreaded split sleeve 15 having a flanged upper end 16 which rests uponthe rail 1'? or other support for the spindle mount.

By, thus providing a split sleeve the packing can readily beintroducedbetween the sleeve and the stem of the bolster. engaging the screwthreaded outer wall of the split sleeve 15 may be utilized to clamp thesleeve which constitutes the bolster casing upon the rail 17 and also tosecure the split sleeve firmly upon the bolster stem.

A further feature of my invention consists in so constructing the upperball bearing cup that it may be readily formed preferably from pressedor stamped metal and desirably is so constructed that it may be adjustedproperly in relation to the cooperating cone and locked in adjustedposition against tampering by unauthorized persons.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 thecup bearing is pressed or stamped to form a ball race 19 having adownwardly or outwardly extending wall 20 terminating in a cylindricalskirt 21 which fits the cylindrical wall of the chambered upper portionof the bolster. This fit preferably is such as to permit'a creeping ofthe ball race to insure an even wearing of the race.

Suitable means are provided for adjustably securing the ball race inproper rela- A. nut 18 tion to the cone 22 with which it cooperates. Aconvenient means which is illustrated herein comprises a ring 23 havingsuitable screw threads 2% engaging complementary screw threads withinthe wall of the upper cylindrical portion of the bolster but it will beunderstood that the ring" may be 'so formed as to screw upon the outsideof the bolster rather. than the inside. By screwing down the ring theproper adjustment between the cup ball race and its cooperating cone maybe readily effected.

Suitable means may be provided for look ing the ring trated herein thering" is provided with a. series of recesses 25 and the uppercylindrical portion of the bolster is provided with apertures 26 so thatwhen the recesses 25 are caused to register with the apertures 26 alocking wire 27 may be passed through them and its ends secured togetherby a suitable cal 28, alternatively the ring may be locked in place by aset screw passing through the wall of thebolster or in any othersuitable manner. 2 x

The usual whirl 29 which is fixedly secured upon the spindle is providedwith a chambered lower portion 30 which is adapted to fit over the upper.ball bearing in such a manner that the'bottom 31 oftheba'iid pulleygroove therein will lie substantially 1n the plane of the ball race, theconstruction being such that when the spindle is subject to the forceimposedby the pull of the band during its driving operation a componentof said force will act downwardly upon the spindle thereby forcing itslower end upon the step face of the softer metal parts so that anydistortion of the hardened bearing rings which may result from thehardening process will be corrected and said hardened rings.

caused to present accurate bearing surfaces.

Such bearing surfaces may be applied to either cup or cone bearings. Inthe construction illustrated in Fig. 4 hardened bearing rings areillustratedas applied to both the cup and cone members ofthe bearing. Inthis construction. the cup race 19 is formed by pressing or stamping andis pro vided with a bearing surface 82 which is carefully machined; Athin ring 33 of high grade steel is suitably formed and hardened afterfinal machining and is then pressed in adjusted position. As illus- Idrical portionof said bolster and means for firmly into the bearing 82formed in the cup member 19 so that any distortion which may result fromthehardening process is compensated for and the wearing ring 33 of the:cone.v Similarly any distortion of this ring'is'corrected' so that itpresents a proper bearing surface to engage the balls 36. Alternativelythe bearings -'may be formed of relatively" thick walls and the wearingsurfaces thereof carbonized before final machining and hardenedfafterfinal machining.

. Preferably the bearing ring 35 for the spindle is provided withasubstantially cylindrical extension 37* which extends upwardlybeyond-the cup bearing and is engaged within a suitable recess 38 in thelower portion of the whirl 29. Byrproviding a tight fit the whirl may'becaused also to clamp thewearing ring 35 upon the spindle blade. 1 r

It will beunderstood that the embodiment of the invention disclosedherein is illustrative but not restrictive and that variousmodifications in construction and arrangement of parts may be madewithin the meanin and scope of the iollowingclaim s.

aving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: V

1. Arspindle bearing comprising a bolster having a cup shaped portion atits upper end, a ball race slidably fitted in said cup shaped portionand an adjustable means for securing said ball race in place. i 2. Aspindle bearing comprising a bolster having a chambered cylindricalupper portion, a ball race having a cylindrical portion slidably fittedin said cylinder, and adjustable means for retaining said ball race inplace. l V

3. A spindle bearing comprising a bolster having a chambered cylindricalupper portion, a ball race having a cylindrical flange slidably fittingsaid cylindrical portion and an adjustable securing ring therefor havinga screwthreaded periphery and engaging complementary screw threads onthe cylindrical portion of said bolster.

4. A spindle bearing comprising a bolster having a chambered cylindricalupper por-- tion, a ball race having a cylindrical flange slidablyfitting, said cylindrical portion and an adjustable securing ringtherefor having a screw threaded periphery and engaging complementaryscrew threads on the cylinlocking said ring against rotation.

5. A spindle bearing comprising a bolster having a chambered'cylindricalupper por tion, a ball race having a cylindrical flange slidably fittingsaid cylindrical portion and a ringliaving screw threaded meansengagingcomplementary screw threads on the cylindrical portion or saidbolster, said ring being provided with a plurality of'recesses and acomplementary recess on said cylindrical portion adapted when inregistry with a recess of said ring to receive a lock ing member.

'. 6. A spindle bearing comprising a bolster "having a hollowcylindrical upper portion,

a se arate metal ball race havin a fian e top of said cylindricalportion, a spindle in said bolster having a cone adapted in cooperationwith said ball race to provide an upper ball bearing for said spindle, alower step bearing for said spindle and means for adjustably securingsaid upper ball bearing seated in said-cylindrical. portion, the ballrace belng located at a distance above the in the cylindrical upperportion of said bolster whereby. the proper adjustment of the spindle inits ball bearings may be secured. a i V 7 A spindle bearing comprising abolster having a hollow cylindrical upper portion, a separate metal ballrace having a flange seated in said cylindrical portion, the ball racebeing located at a distance above the top o'f said cylindrical portion,a spindle in said bolster having a cone adapted in cooperation. withsaid ball race to provide an upper ball bearing for said spindle, alower step bearing for said spindle and means for adjustably securingsaid upper ball bearing "in the cylindrical upper portion of saidbolster whereby the proper adjustment of the'spindle in its ballbearings may be secured, and a whirl on said spindle having a centralrecess inclosing said upper ball bearing whereby the central plane ofthe groove of said whirl will be substantially in the same plane as theball bearing.

8. A spindle bearing comprising a bolster having a screw threaded stem.a spindle rotatably mounted in said bolster. a bolster casing comprisinga split sleeve casing having internal and external: screw threads, aresilient packing intermediate of the screw threads of said bolster, andsaid bolster casing and nut engaging the exterior screw threads of saidbolster casing adapted to secure said bolster casing'to a supportingmember.

spindle blade in said chamber and cushioning means between said thrustbearing and 9. A spindle construction comprising a 2 operating bearingmembers having bearing surfaces formed of thin hardened metal ringsforced upon said bearlng members and caused thereby to conformaccurately to the contour of said bearing members whereby any distortionof said hardened rings is corrected and an accurate bearing-surfacepresented. a

12. A. ball bearing spindle comprising a cup bearing accurately formedof relatively soft metal and a thin ring; of hardened metal conformingto said cup bearing forced therein and thereby caused to conform to thecontour of said cup bearing whereby an accurate bearing surface ispresented. I

13. A ball bearing spindle comprising a spindle having a conical bearingmember accurately formed thereon, a ringtof thin hardened materialconforming to said coni cal bearing member forced thereon and therebycausedto conform to the contour of said conical bearing member wherebyan:

accurate bearing surface is presented.

14. A ball bearing spindle comprismg-a spindle having a conical bearingmember;

accurately formed thereon, aring' of thin hardened material conformingto said conical bearing member. forced thereon and thereby caused toconform i to the contour of said conical bearing member whereby anaccurate bearing surface is presented said duct communicating with saidchamber and removable means for clos ng said duct.

In testimony whereof I' have signed my name to this specification.

THEODORE MfrnUDn n

